He’s been roaming the City High sideline for nearly four decades, but Dan Sabers is still kicking.

“My energy level’s good, and I’ve still got a fire in my butt for it,” said the veteran football coach who’s been with the program since 1981 and enters his 17th season at the helm of the Little Hawks' storied program. “I feel very fortunate — very blessed — to be around this game.”

Another challenge awaits.

With many of City’s top names and weapons gone from a 2016 squad that won eight games, retained The Boot and reached the Class 4A quarterfinals, Sabers now must guide a largely inexperienced squad that's looking for leaders to emerge. There is talent splattered all across of the team's position groups, but much of it lacks significant varsity experience.

“As coaches, we’ve got to make sure we understand, ‘Hey, slow it down, break it down,’” Sabers said. “More walkthroughs, if we need to — to make sure that these guys fully understand. I’ve got some guys who didn’t play football last year — now, they’re coming out, and things like that — so they don’t know a lot about the game.

“And, obviously, as long as my staff’s been coaching, we’ve got to make sure that we really break it down. That’s something that I even had to adjust, and stuff, and tell myself, ‘Hey, wait a minute. You may be throwing too much at them too fast.’”

Buy Photo

City High teammates run drills during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

The transitional talk starts under center, where senior Bryce Hunger takes over for the departed Nate Wieland. Now an Iowa linebacker, Wieland leaned on his athleticism and dual-threat abilities in running the City offense, doing so with an assertive and confident approach.

Much of the same will be asked from Hunger, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound weapon who isn’t new to the position. Hunger was under center throughout junior high and a sophomore two seasons ago, having slid over to a safety/linebacker hybrid last season with Wieland in front of him.

Now, it’s Hunger’s show.

Buy Photo

City High quarterback Bryce Hunger throws to a teammate during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

“I’ve had to take a bigger leadership role, for sure,” he said. “Just talking to some of the younger guys about the little things that you need to know on varsity.”

Although Hunger won’t have dynamic air weapons Naeem Smith, Vance Dillon and Gabe Nkumu at his disposal, the Little Hawks do return leading pass catcher Zach Jones, who hauled in 39 grabs for 556 yards and four touchdowns last season. The 5-foot-9 speedster will be the focal point of countless opponents as City tries to get him the ball in any way imaginable.

He’s a threat both deep and underneath. He’ll return punts and kicks. He’ll start at defensive back as well.

Jones knows how valuable he is. He wants the workload to be extensive.

“I’m in the quarterback’s ear every play,” Jones said.

Buy Photo

City High's Zach Jones runs drills with teammates during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Jones and Hunger have been best friends for some time, which has helped ease the myriad offensive switches. With City’s leading pieces regularly on the same page, additional time can be spent bringing along the others who are sliding into big roles for the first time.

“I feel like my leadership is talking to guys, telling them what to do, giving them tips and skills in the game,” Jones said. “I feel like I share that a lot with my team. We’ve got a lot of young guys, and they want to step up and prove themselves. I try to make them feel like they’re a part of the team and they can lead the team, as well.”

One who is poised to break through is running back Davonte Foster, who's next in line to take over the lion’s share of the carries in City’s run-heavy offense. Stuck behind the reliable Bryce Frantz, Foster had just three carries for 22 yards in 2016 — but the Little Hawk senior has shown promise so far in preseason camp.

While Frantz was more of a rugged runner, Foster can gash you with speed and quickness — something Sabers expects to see frequently this season.

“He’s getting better every day at seeing things, and he brings more speed,” the City coach said. “You always like to have speed. It’s one thing to get a hole open and get 10 yards — Davonte is the type of kid who can get a hole open and take it for 25, 30 yards or more.”

Buy Photo

City High's Davonte Foster runs down field during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017.(Photo: David Scrivner/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

With the likes of Brock Hunger, Jordain Buckland, Charles Johnson, Scooter Hickman, Joey Schnoebelen and Dylan Deshler departed as well, there are other sizeable holes to fill. But notable names from all around the district are absent too.

Under Sabers’ guidance, the Little Hawks believe there’s no need for a playoff reprieve.

“We need guys to believe in themselves first,” Jones said. “A lot of these younger guys, they all have the talent, but they all don’t have that confidence and leadership. We’ve already got the mold — we’re all gelling together and have good chemistry — we just need to step up and speak up.”

Dargan Southard covers preps, recruiting, Iowa and UNI athletics for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.